Stretching 43 kilometers along South Africa's Garden Coast, the Otter Trail is a beautiful, ancient wilderness where crowds are kept at bay by strict waiting lists.
The Otter Trail —
Stretching 43 kilometers along South Africa's Garden Coast, the Otter Trail is a beautiful, ancient wilderness where crowds are kept at bay by strict waiting lists.
Megan King
The five-day trail isn't an easy walk. There are rivers to cross, cliffs to scale and hills to climb.<br />
Hiking challenge —
The five-day trail isn't an easy walk. There are rivers to cross, cliffs to scale and hills to climb.
Megan King
The trail is characterized by virgin evergreen forests and rocky contours that plunge into dramatic coastlines.
Dramatic coastlines —
The trail is characterized by virgin evergreen forests and rocky contours that plunge into dramatic coastlines.
Megan King
Hikers need to carry backpacks stuffed with dehydrated food, grains, nuts, dried fruits, and everything else needed for five days in the wild.
Supplies —
Hikers need to carry backpacks stuffed with dehydrated food, grains, nuts, dried fruits, and everything else needed for five days in the wild.
Megan King
Each day's hike finishes at huts built to accommodate the walkers. Limited space means access must be booked up to a year in advance.
Rest stops —
Each day's hike finishes at huts built to accommodate the walkers. Limited space means access must be booked up to a year in advance.
Megan King
The trail frequently changes with the whims of the weather. Mists create an otherworldly atmosphere that's quickly replaced when the sun shines.
Weather coast —
The trail frequently changes with the whims of the weather. Mists create an otherworldly atmosphere that's quickly replaced when the sun shines.
Megan King
The trail is criss-crossed by a gushing network of waterfalls and rivers.
Swimming spots —
The trail is criss-crossed by a gushing network of waterfalls and rivers.
Megan King
In places the landscape is transformed into alternating layers of rock -- light orange and dusty reds of the sandstone contrast with the darker bands of shale.<br />
Geological wonders —
In places the landscape is transformed into alternating layers of rock -- light orange and dusty reds of the sandstone contrast with the darker bands of shale.
Megan King
More than 250 million years ago, these rocks were rolled, folded, squashed and contorted by extreme heat and pressure in what has come to be known as the Cape Fold Belt region.
Cape Fold Belt —
More than 250 million years ago, these rocks were rolled, folded, squashed and contorted by extreme heat and pressure in what has come to be known as the Cape Fold Belt region.
Megan King
The Otter Trail also takes in stretches of wide, beautiful and deserted beaches.
Beach walk —
The Otter Trail also takes in stretches of wide, beautiful and deserted beaches.
Megan King
Waterways carve their way through ravines to form fresh water pools amid diverse flora, South African fynbos shrubs and fungi.
Water pools —
Waterways carve their way through ravines to form fresh water pools amid diverse flora, South African fynbos shrubs and fungi.
Megan King
Inside the forest the variety of fungi is astonishing. <br />
Fantastic flora —
Inside the forest the variety of fungi is astonishing.
Megan King
The accommodation huts all have grand views over the Indian Ocean coastline.
Fantastic views —
The accommodation huts all have grand views over the Indian Ocean coastline.
Megan King
The landscape, much of which was formed 365 million years ago, hosts forested valleys that are home to an abundance of indigenous trees, ferns and other plants.
Ancient landscape —
The landscape, much of which was formed 365 million years ago, hosts forested valleys that are home to an abundance of indigenous trees, ferns and other plants.
Megan King
Limiting visitor permits to a maximum number of 12 people each day means that hikers are unlikely to meet anyone not in their group.
All alone —
Limiting visitor permits to a maximum number of 12 people each day means that hikers are unlikely to meet anyone not in their group.
Megan King
In places, the rugged coastal landscape is shot through with bands of quartz.
Rock strata —
In places, the rugged coastal landscape is shot through with bands of quartz.
Megan King